The other day I came across The Fred Martinez Project, created in memory of a Navajo teenager who was brutally killed. The information in this post is taken from the project website, which I highly recommend to check out.
The project‘s film Two Spirits documents Fred Martinez’s life and murder. Fred was transgendered, identifying as a gay man and expressing gender in feminine ways. In the Navajo tradition, Fred’s family understood him to be nádleehí – “a male-bodied person who has a feminine essence.”
As conveyed by a promise, project workers aim to make a powerful impact through sharing Fred’s story: “The Two Spirits documentary film and the education and outreach efforts of the Fred Martinez Project will play a role in deepening and expanding the ongoing national dialogue about self-identity, gender, freedom of expression, and human rights.”
I am thoroughly impressed by the aims of The Fred Martinez Project and the promising impact of Two Spirits being screened. I hope that folks back in my state of Michigan and in the greater Lansing area take interest to get the documentary in cinemas and to organize community dialogues. I’d love to see the film show where I am in northern Europe among the bustling institutions of Brussels and the arts community of Amsterdam. For I believe stories are meant to be heard, and words have wings.
With this hopeful expectation, I’ve contacted staff with The Fred Martinez Project and look forward to sharing more on the blog when details are available.
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